Game apparatus



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IQ EB 13 (M17 7 Q 7 p18 I 61mm; 10 v I Patented June 21, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

WILLIAM W. GAIL AND FRANK B. CONNELLY, on nrnrnveks, mam.

GAME APPARATUS.

Application filed March 6, 1925, Serial No. 18,453. Renewed'N-ovember 9,1926.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in game apparatus.

The primary object of this mvention is to.

provide a game apparatus which may be,

used for embodying the solving ofcross word puzzles into a competitivegame.

A further object 'of the invention is to provide a game of the abovementioned type which may be adapted for use by children or adults by thechanging of the set of rules employed for governing the playing of thegame. i

ther objects-and advantages of thein vention will be apparent during thecourse of the following description;

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and inwhich like numerals are employed. to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the game board used in the playing of thegame embodying this invention,

Figure 2 is a plan view of two differentplayers used in combination withthe game,

board shown in Fig. 1, thesaid players each being provided with a singleletter of the alphabet, and

Figure 3 is a plan view of two additional players to'be used with thegame board, these players each being provided with a group of letters ofthe alphabet. V

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of this invention, the numeral 5 desig hates thegame board in its entirety which includes the four patterns 6 formed bythe different colored spaces 7 and 8. It will be noted that each patternis formed of six rows of spaces extending atright angles to each otherwith the different colored spaces 7 and 8 arranged alternately in eachrow and so that the spaces of the same color extend diagonally acrosseach pattern, which pattern is of substantially square formation.

The game board 5 is further provided with a centrally located square 9provided with the word Letter-box. To the right of each pattern 6, inthe clear space formed between the adjacent patterns are the squares 10and 11 provided with the words Discard and Reserve.

In Fig. 2 there are shown two players 12 and 13 each of which isprovided with a letter 14 and 15 respectively. In Fig. 3 there are showntwo additional players 16 and 17, the player 16 being provided with thetwo letters 18 while the player 17 with-the two letters 19.

The game board 5 is to be arranged in respect. to the variouscompetitors with one ofthe' four corners 20 of the board pointingdirectly toward each competitor. Viththe is provided direction arrows 21and 22 with-the arrows 21. pointed toward the competitors and boardarranged in this manner, it will be seen I that the spaces 8 are eachprovided-with the with the arrows 22 pointed to the right-of thecompetitors. It will be noted that'the longest row of spaces 8 in eachpattern has the words Base letter printedin the space at the left handend of this row and the words Key letter? printed in the third that theentire alphabet may be repeated as many times as desired with theletters singly appearing upon the players as in Fig. 2 or arranged indifferent groups asinv Fig. 3. At the start of the game, the players tobe used are piled upon the space 9, referred to as the letter-box. Thepersonsplayingthe game determine the order in which they are to play andthe personhaving the first play takes one or more players, dependingupon the rules being used, from the letterbox. He then arranges theplayer orplayers in the squares 8 of this pattern in the mostadvantageous manner to form words readable in the direction of thearrows 21 "and 22, it being understood that the squares 8 having botharrows 21 and 22 must be provided with players having letters capable ofuse for forming words readable in the direction of both of the arrows.If the player decides that the player or players he has drawn from theletter-box are not suitable for use at that time, he may place any oneof the players upon the space 11 marked Reserve and may use'such playerat a later point in the game. If he determines that he does not need anyone or all of the players drawn at any time during the game, he mayplace those players upon the square 10 marked Discard. The person whofirst covers all of the spaces 8 with players arranged in a manner toform complete words readable in the direction of the arrows 21 and 22Wins the game.

Too much emphasis can hardly be placed upon the phase in which this gameis essentially new, namely, the phase of creating combinations of wordscrossing one another on the principle of the cross-Word puzzle, skill inthe studying out of which is the main determining factor in winning,inasmuch as the supply of letters is such that competitors will averageabout the same in the luck of drawing desired letters in the same numberof draws. To illustrate the Way the lettered players will appear upon acompleted pattern, reference may be made to the following samples:

Horizontal words: real, hasten, toed.

Vertical words: rat, besot, hates, led.

A sample completed pattern, combination letters:

CR EO SW A L E GR A V I E S T E A L S N Horizontal words: swale,gravies, teal.

Vertical words: swat, craves, eolian, eel.

It is to be understood that the form of this'invention herewith shownand described is to be taken as the preferred example of the same, andthat various changes in the shape, size, and. arrangements of parts maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, we claim:

1. In a word spelling game adapted to be played with lettered gamepieces, a square board having at each corner a checkered square, saidsquares being spaced to provide a field having the shape of an equalarmed cross, said board having a main game piece receiving areaindicated at the intersection of the arms of the cross and furtherhaving on each arm of the cross areas indicated as Reserve and Discardareas for the reception of reserved and discarded game pieces.

2. In a word spelling game adapted to be played with lettered gamepieces, a square board having at each corner a checkered square, saidsquares being spaced to provide a field having the shape of an equalarmed cross, said board having a main game piece receiving areaindicated at the inter-' section of the arms of the cross and furtherhaving on each arm of the cross areas inclicated as Reserve and Discardareas for the reception of reserved and discarded game pieces, certainof the diagonal rows of the checkers in each square having arrowsthereon to indicate the direction of reading of the letters of thepieces placed on said "square in forming a word. p I

3. In a word spelling game adapted to be played with lettered gamepieces, a square board having at each corner a checkered square, saidsquares being spaced to provide a field having the shape of an equalarmed cross, said board having a main game piece receiving areaindicated at the intersection of the arms or the cross and furtherhaving on each arm of the cross areas indicated as Reserve and Discardareas for the reception of reserved and discarded game pieces, certainof the diagonal rows of the checkers in each square having arrowsthereon to indicate the direction of reading of the letters of thepieces placed on said square in "forming a word, certain of the arrowpro vided checkers having two arrows thereon to indicate that the letterof a piece placed thereon is to be read in two directions in wordformation.

In testimony whereof we affix our'signatures. l I

WVILLIAM WV. GAIL.

FRANK B. CONNELLY.

